Locking mechanism



. G. L- CRAGG I LOCKING MECHANISM Filed NOV. 9, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l iilllli l ,4 TO am'rekr I 1, 1 5 m. 22. 1921. 62L. was 6 s7 2 LOCKING macumrsu Filed no'vfe. 1925 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 T0 BRIGHT LIGHTS TO PARKING LIGHTS Patented ch. 1927.-

, UNITED STATES,

"PATENT OFFICE.

enonen 1.. cases, or calcium, 11.1mm, ASSIGNOB 'ro HARRY A. DOUGLAS, or

' nnonson, micnrean.

- nocxnwe MncHAiwIsm.--

' Application filed November 9, 1925. "Serial 5N0. 67,882.

My invention relates .to locking mechanism 4 and is of particular use iii-conjunction with combined switches for governing the ignition or power controlling circuits and the lighting circuits of automotive vehicles 3 and which combined switches employ swi h handles for controlling thelighting circuits and locks for controlling the ignition or power controlling circuits. A prior switch of thisclass' is provided with an enclosing casing forthecontacting mechanism, this casing having a central tubular portion projecting outwardly beyond the casing into the hollow hub of the li hting=circuit controlling handle. This tu ular casing portion that is stitutes a hollow member of the lock. This hollow lock member encloses a tumbler barrel that'carries anumber of tumblers movable transversely of the hollow lock member and tumbler barrel and which enter openings formed'in opposite sides of the hollow lock member after the tumbler barrel is turned by the inserted key to bring'the tumblers into register with said openings and in consequence of the withdrawal of the key following this turning movement of the tumbler barrel, the tumbler barrel being locked in fixed relation with the hollow lock member when the tumblers enter the open-.

ings in this member.'- When the key is inserted to withdraw the tumblers from said openings, the tumblerbarrel may be. turned by the. inserted key to remove the tumblers from alignment withthe openings to bring the tumblers out of locking relation with the-hollow lock member, imperforate portions of this member. then holding the tumble'rs out of lockingrelation with it. The tumbler barrellis' in operating relation with the contact actuator with'the casing that governs the ignition circuit. 'When the-key is inserted and turned to turn the tumbler barrel to an'unlocked position, the ignition circuit is consequently closed. When the key is reversely turned, the tumbler barrel is reversely turned, and'the ignition circuit is consequently opened, the tumblers ;then being. in-register with the openings in the hollow lock member. When 'thekey is withdrawn following its reversed turning movement, the tumblers are free-to enter the openings in the hollow lock member to lock the ignition circuit open.

In these prior switches, the tumbler barrel or rotatable lock member was so positioned with relation to the handle as torequire a deep hollow 'hub for the handle.-

It is the general object of my invention to provide an improved locking mechanism for lockmgthe 1gn1t10n swltchin ignition circuit opening'position and which also preferably enables the employment. of a handle end wall to be stationary instead ofrotatable 'which' is in fixed relation to the front casing and which contains tumblers that are desir ably disposed longitudinally of the axis of the tumbler barrel. The tumbler barrel is formed to receive spring-pressed holding pins carried. by a rotatable shell or hollow lock member that is mounted to turn upon the axis of the tumbler barrel and about the barrel that preferably serves as a shaft upon which the hollow lock member isjou-rnaled. These pins are in-their holding positions' when the ignition circuitfis. to be locked open.

In carrying out'my invention .in the preferred way, I-provide a handle operated,

light circuit controlling contact actuating ring within the switch 'casing,-a second contact actuatingring surrounded by the first and in controlling relation to the ignition circuit and operable directly by the tumblerbarrel enclosing hollow lock member which is surrounded by the. rings;

The invention will be .morei fullyv explained in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a front 'view of the preferred embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2" is a rear view; Fig. 3 is a sectlonal view on line 3-=-3 of Fig. 1,-on a larger scale; Flg. 41s a sectional new on 5 is asectional view on line. 5- 5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 6-6 of view on line 9-.-9 of Fig. 4:; Fig. 10 is a sectional view on line 10 -10 of Fig.- 9-; Fig.

'11 is a perspective, view showing two co'mplement-al parts of the lock mechanism in separated relation; Fig. 12 is a perspectivev view showing the hollow lock member and a portion of the casing end wall through whicl'1'it. is passed; Fig. 13 is a perspective line'4-4 of Fig. 3, on a smaller. scale; .Fig.

view of a member fixed within the hollow lock member; Fig. 14 is a diagram of one circuit arrangement; and F1 15 is'a perspective view of the preferre form of tum- The switching mechanism to be later described is enclosed within a casing that .1s preferably cylindrical. The casing is desirably formed of sheet metal and has one end wall 1 integrally formed with its cylindrical wall 2. Theother end wall of, the easi'ng is illustrated in the form-of a contact carrying disc 3 of insulating material, this disc having bayonet pins 4 wh1ch are received in bayonet slots 5 formed in the casing wall 2. The end wall 3 thus constitutes a removable closure affording access to the interior of the casing for the purpose of loeating the operating parts of the switch ng mechanism therein and for the inspection and replacement of these parts. The disc isheld in assembly with the casin by sprin ressure exerted rearwardly t ereon an rnished'by s ring-preged contacts, later to be described that are contained in the casing. As will more fully appear, some of these spring-pressed contacts are complemental to contacts 6 6', 7, 8, 8', 9, 9', 9' and 10 carried by the closure disc 3 and other of these springs-pressed contacts are complemental to and engageable with the contacts 11 and 12 also carried by the disc The contacts 13, 14, 15 and 16, that pertam to the contacts 6, 6', 7, 8,8,, 9, 9, 9 and 10, are in the nature of bulging formations formed in a ring 17, this ring and these contacts bein diagrammatically indicated 1n Fig.14. e contacts 18 and 19 that pertain to the contacts 11 and 12 are also in the nature of bulging formations which, in the case of these contacts, are formed in a metallic triangular contact carrying plate 20 surrounded by ring 17.. e The trolled y the handle and lock is not ger mane to my invention and, therefore, the

circuit arrangement in Fig. 14 need not be vldingeach ofthe contacts 1 particularl described. It will to say that switching a t illustrated .is such that the lighting handie, when ad usted to parking ion or an of! position, establishes gaps in the 1gp:- tion circuit so that this circuit may not"t en be closed but is free to be closed when the lighting switch is adjusted to day, dim,

or bright 'tione.

The. metafic ring 17 and metallic plate 20 are pressed toward the contact carrying disc tlintaorder that thzgopmttactsthogi said and p may pres com ementa conttcta on the carrier 3 or on tli e insulation between these contacts, according tothe circuit adjustment desired. The desired rm resure is exerted by refer-ably ro- 8p p 14, 16 16 articular nature of the circuits conon the ring 17 and the contacts 18 and 19 and the corner portions 21 and 220i triangular plate 20 with the spring devices such as those illustrated mostclearly in Fig. 3. Each sprin device includes a sprin barrel 23' which houses a s ring 24 an which presses the element (1 or 20) carrying it,

toward the contact carrier'3. The springs 24, in the construction illustrated, carryno essential parts of the currents. The spring barrels 23 constitute means for flexibly coupling the contact carriers 17 and 20 with the actuators for these contact carriers. The ac tuator for the contact carrying late 20 is desirably in the form of an insu atin'g ring .26 which is coaxial with the casing; The actuator for the ring 17 is desirably in the form of another insulating ring 28 coaxial with and surrounding ring 26. The spring barrels 23 carried by the contact carriers are slidinglyreceived within recesses 27 formed in their actuating rings. As the ring '26 is posed enlargements 22 which receive the prongs 30 formed upon the hub portion 31 of a handle Y32 and which project through arcuate slots 33 formed through the end wall 1 and concentric therewith. *A late 34, preferably circular and slightly 'shed, is suitably asembled with the casing end wall 1 upon the exterior thereof, as by means of rivets 35. The plate 34 may, if desired, constitu'te the mounting plate for-the switch. I

structure in which event it may be formed with screw receiving holes 34'. The handle hub 81 has a circular flange portion 31' that is concentric with the casing and which directly carries the rongs 30. Th circular portion 31' is in t e nature of a ange ofi set with to the body portion of the hub surrounded thereby to form an annular shoulder 36 concentric with the handle and circ at opening formed inthe plate 34*concentricall with the handle and c The flan 81 is received in the s ace tween the plate 34. and the flange be in meat with both plate and end at itaei'rcular edge to restrain the handlefrom movement along the Y axis. The shoulder 36 and the surrounding plate 84. confine the handle to turmng' movement u of the casing. The

this

0 oacillation'of the handle is 1T5 ofthe arcuate slot: as,

casing on wall 1, the

casin and engaging the inner edge of the v range of movement being sufiicient to enable the handle to turn the contact actuator 28 in either direction and to a suflicient extent to close the selected lighting circuit or to open all lighting circuits.

The contact actuator 26 that determines .the position of the contact carrying plate is, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, held from movement, whenthe ignition circuit is to be locked open, by a stationary lock tumbler-barrel 37 which is con fined within the hollow rotatable lock m'ember- 38which is in opening 1 formed in said wall, said wings the required range.

I tumbler barrel channels formed in the tumbler barrel along 1 for the rotatable rotation oi the member reventing the tumbler barrel from turning.

The stationary tumbler barrel -is mainly within the casing and serves as a journal hollow member 38 whose inner end is-within the casing and in the zone of the actuating ring 26 that surro i mds it. The rotatable hollow lock member 38 is formed with transverse openings 40 which receive the base or connected endportions of the wings 1, ends of these wings that are received in the arcu'ate recesses 39 in the tumbler barrel. The openings 40 are of such extent as to permit themem'b'er 38 to be turned throughout The member-38 carries or openings 26' side pins 38' that enter slots in ring 26, whereby this ring may be turned.-

These pins and openings are within the casing and aiford sliding connection between the ring 26 and member 38. The outer end of member 38 projects through the casing :end wall opening 1 and through the lock opening'32" in the hub portionof thehans dle. A key opening side and outer endof member 38 and in line with a key guide way42 that is secured within the" outer end of member 38. the key opening 41 is bodily swung to turn invention is not to be limited, however, to the-bodily swinging movementflof the-key nor'to'the location of the key opening 40.

and guide way 42' w The tumblers'44 are employed to hold the rotatable hollowflock member '38 and the} 26 from rotation-h .bler disposed longitudinal y of the tumbler c ontact' actuating ring These tumblers are gitudinally of, .the axis of the stationary 37 and are slidable within its axis. These tumblers serve to remove the holdingpins' 45 from when the key-is inserted, preparatory to the 38 .from the position in which the ignition circuit is locked open to the position 111' which the ignition. circuit is closed,

said holding pins being which receive the it being the inner unattached eludes the adapted to turn, 41' is formed 'inthe in-a key guide 42 A suitable key 43 is reeeivablein,

and member 38,;

desirably arranged lonbarrel and movable in a. channel and extending longitudinally of the tumbler the tumbler :l1annelsv free to enter the tumbler channelswhen the hollow-.member is restored to circuit open turn therewith, the 46 that contain the carrier is turned to circuit opening position.

Springs 47 press outwardly upon the pins 45 so that when the and tumbler barrel is withdrawn, the locking tumbler channels to a limited without being ejected from the channels in the. pin-carrier whereafter the pin carrier and rotatable holIow member 38 cannot be turned, The tumblers 44 are formed of T shape to afford transversely elongated heads pins will enter the channels in'the pin carrier are aligned and the key.

extent and l to remain in engagement with the key throughout the bodily swinging movement I of the key The pin' c on the inner end of the tumbler barrel. The m carrier and rotatable member are thus thus have a fixed axis of rotation that incenters of the handle opening 32' and the opening 1 in the end wall1. The handle opening 32-. the'casing openingll' and the bore of the lock member 38 are thus in register and coaxial with the tumbler barrel, the contact carriers 17 and 20 and the actuating rings 26'and 28.

-The contact carriers: 17 and 20,-ijybeirig adjusting relation thereby. The

with"acasing; of a casing, and projectin into ithe interior of he'casing; a hollow journaled upon the tum formed in barrel; an outwardly spring pressed holding in carried by an inner portion of said hol owrota-table lock member and receivable in the channel in the tumbler barrel when brought into register therewith upon suitably turnin the hollow lock. member; a handle inoun d to turn upon the exterior of the casing, said hollow rotatable lock membyv an end wall of the arrier is provided with a reduced outer end portion145 that enters a socket 46 serve as actuators indirect to 4 the contacts carried 1 rings 26 and 28 'sferve' as actwj ators'forjsaid contact carriers and,.thr,ough these carriers, as actuators for said contacts. .fl cha'n'gesmay be made from the-invention.

no 8 without departing I Having thus described; my invention, 1' i 'claim:--

I 1. The combination I tumbler barrel carried rotatable: lock member ler barrel; a'tummounted to turn upon the exterior of the upon other turning movement 0 ber bein in line with the'axis of the handle,

the hen le being formed to. permit passage of a key; and mechanism within the (SI-SIDE having members respectively coupled wit said hollow rotatable lockmember and said han le. I g

2. e combination with a casing; of a tumbler barrel carried b 'an end wall of the casing and projecting into the interior of extending longitudinally of the tumbler barrel;-an outwardly a ring ressed holdi in carried by an innei' portion of said liifilhw rotatable lock member and receivable in the channel in the tumbler barrel when brought into register therewith an: suitably turning the hollow lock mem and a handle casing, said hollow rotatable lock member bein in line with the axis of the handle, the kandle being formed to permit of a e g 3. e combination with a casing havin an openin formed h an end we thereof; 0 a rotatable hol ow lockmember in line withsaid opening and having an end portion within the casing; a key controlled lock having a dationa rtion carried by said end wall of the casing and entering said hollow lock member and a com,-

Elemental portion carried by said rotatable ollow lock member, said Nick portions having holding w; u w u n suitable tum- OllOW lock member; and a handle mounted to turn upon the exterior of the casing said hollow rotatable lockmember being in line with the axis of the handle, the handle being formed to permit pamage of a hey.

4. The combination with a casing ha an openi formed an end thereof; 0 a rotatable w loek member in line with said opening an end portion within the 1' a controlled ock having a statio lfigportion barried b said casing and entering mid hollow member anda complemental carried vthe exterior of the'easing, said tumbler barrel car-ried by an end wall of the casin a hollow rotatable lock member journale upon the tumbler barrel; 9. tumbler disposed longitudinally of the tumbler barrel and movable in a channel formed in and extending lon 'tudiually of the tumbler barrel; an outwa ly spring'pressed hold pin carried .by aninner portion of said lih l ow rotatable lock member and receivable in the channel in the tumbler barrel when I brought into register therewith upon suitably turning the hollow lock member; a'

handle mounted to turn upon the exterior of the casing, said hollow rotatable lock mem berbei in line with the axis of the handle, the hen le being formed to permit. passage ofa key; and mechanism withinthe casi hav members respectively coupled'wi said h ollow rotatable lock member and said handle.

6. The combination with a casing havinfi an opening formed throiflgh an end we thereof; 0 a rotatable ho ow lock member" in line with said opening and having an end rtion within the said casing and upon w member is journaled, and a complementalportion carried b said rotatable hollow lock member; a than a mounted to turn upon ible lockmember bein 1m line withthe axis of the handle, the h ebeing formed to permit i .of a key; and mechanism within t havingmembers tivel coupled wi said hollow rotate Is Too member and said handle.

. In witnewhereof, I hereunto subscribe my name. y i GEORGE L. CRAGQ,

hollow rotatk h ;'a key controllled oc a a stationa rtion carried 90 mg aid hollow loch 

